Governor's delay to act on poll body's opinion on CM Hemant Soren causing turmoil in Jharkhand: EC ex-bosses
India Today
Former bosses of the Election Commission have said the poll body's opinion on the disqualification of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren is not the personal property of Governor Ramesh Bais.
It's been a week since the Election Commission sent its opinion to Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais about the disqualification of Chief Minister Hemant Soren as an MLA over an alleged illegal mining case. The governor, however, is silent -- which could also be the reason behind the political turmoil in the state.
Amid all the speculation, and fearing horse trading, CM Hemant Soren went to Birsa Munda airport to see off 33 MLAs (19 JMM legislators, 13 from Congress and 1 from RJD) as they boarded a chartered Airbus A-320 aircraft to Raipur.
While political parties in the state are busy making permutations and combinations, former Chief Election Commissioners are taking on Governor Ramesh Bais.
Speaking with India Today, Former CEC SY Qureshi said, "It has been a week since ECI sent its recommendation, that recommendation is not a personal property of Governor Ramesh Bias. Although there is no deadline, the governor is expected to act on it with reasonable urgency."
"The recommendation of ECI is final, not even a comma, a full stop can be changed. The governor's delay in issuing a notification is causing instability in Jharkhand," Qureshi added.
Former CEC OP Rawat said, “Legally there is no time frame within which the governor is bound to act. But usually, the governor takes a decision or issues notification within two to three days of getting a recommendation."
Speaking about ECI's role in the situation, Rawat added, "EC has no role (to play after giving its opinion to the governor). The government will not fall if the chief minister is disqualified."
